No difference in action, be sure; that must ever be upright But what of the heroism in this particular case?
The difference declared itself; here there had been no heroism whatever.

To strip herself and her husband when a moment's winking would have kept them well clad?
Yes, but on whose behalf?
Had there not been a positive pleasure in making herself poor that Hubert might be rich?
There was the fatal element in the situation.

She came out of the church palpitating with joy; the first assurance of her husband's ignominious yielding to temptation filled her with, not mere scorn, but with dread.

Had she not been guilty of mock nobleness in her voice, her bearing?
At the time she did not feel it, for the thought of Hubert was kept altogether in the background.

Yes, but she saw now how it had shed light and warmth upon her; the fact was not to be denied, because her consciousness had not then included it She was shamed.
A pity, is it not?
It were so good to have seen her purely noble, indignant with unmixed righteousness.